Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4-8. Edward, an avid reader, as he proved in Edward and the Pirates (1997), returns in a new story celebrating the interactive power of books and the imagination. Surrounded, one summer day, by his toy animals, Edward begins reading the latest tale about his favorite hero, Tarzan, only to find himself suddenly transported to the jungle and threatened by a menacing crocodile. Who should then come swinging to the rescue but the Lord of the Jungle himself! Once they're safe, Tarzan obligingly teaches Edward the leaf-rattling yell that will summon the more friendly animals, a talent that comes in handy when the boy subsequently encounters dangerous poachers. Yes, the story is slight, but its implied message about adventuring with books is nicely integrated into the narrative. The full-and double-page acrylic pictures are drop-dead gorgeous and are surely some of the best work McPhail has ever done. --Michael Cart
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Armchair adventure once again turns all too real in Edward in the Jungle by David McPhail, featuring the star of Edward and the Pirates. While Edward reads about Tarzan and plays with a set of jungle animals in his backyard, the boy's hero suddenly swoops him up when an "enormous crocodile" threatens. A tropical palette creates a veil of mystery. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Edward, a precocious Tarzan fan, takes his toy animals out to his backyard to read another book about his hero and suddenly enters the story. Narrowly escaping a crocodile, he is rescued by the King of the Jungle, who introduces him to all of the animals and teaches him the famous yell. Edward takes a crazy ride on an antelope and saves a trussed up crocodile from hunters by summoning the creatures with the mighty cry to scare them away. Later the grateful reptile carries him to the opposite shore where he gets home in time for dinner, echoing another famous dream-adventure known to most readers. McPhail's lushly colored acrylic paintings depict the jungle tinged in pinky dusk or dawn light and draw readers into the story with varying perspectives and dramatic action. For readers too young for Chris Van Allsburg's Jumanji (Houghton, 1981), it's a good imaginary adventure. It would pair well with Robert D. San Souci's Tarzan (Disney, l999), illustrated by Michael McCurdy, and might lead readers to Edgar Rice Burroughs when they're a little older.-Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Bookish Edward loves Tarzan stories, and one day, while absorbed in his reading, he discovers himself in the middle of a jungle adventure. After being rescued by the ape man himself, Edward emulates his hero and saves a crocodile from capture. The acrylic artwork transforms Edward's ordinary backyard into a believable jungle. The story has a comforting circular twist at the end. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Using underlighting and close shadows to give the art an air of fire-lit mystery, McPhail strands the bookish protagonist of, most recently, Edward and the Pirates (1997) in Tarzan territory, where he's rescued from a crocodile by the Lord of the Jungle himself. After other encounters with wild animals, Edward in turn rescues the croc from a pair of collectors, then the adventure draws to a close when Tarzan's yell turns into Edward's dad calling him home for dinner. Children with a taste for danger will be happy to follow Edward wherever his reading takes him, or to take the hint and get lost in their own favorite stories. (Picture book. 7-9)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
